Method of forming fibrous-pulp pails, receptacles, and other articles



A. W. HANDFORD.

METHOD 0F FORMING FIBROUS PULP PAILS, RECEPTACLES, AND .OTHER ARTICLES.

APPLICATION HLED 1AN.18;1918.

A.`W. HANDFORD.

METHOD 0F FORMING FIBROUS PULP PAILS, RECEPTACLES, AND OTHER ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. Ia, I9Ia.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

U N ll @FFHCEO ARTHUR W. HANDEORD, F EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BYM.`ESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO AMERICAN SEAMLESS CONTAINER COMPANY, 0F ST.CHARLES, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.'

METHOD 0F FOBMING- FIBROUS-PULP PAILS, RECEPTACLES, AND I l1 R ARTICLES;

inca/,coa

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2li, 1922.

Application filed January 18, 1918. erialNo. 212,386.

` at Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of FormingFibrous-Pulp Pails, Receptacles, and other Articles, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to the method of forming pails and other articlesand receptacles, and more particularly to such method whereby these andseamless pails and covers therefor are formed of compressed fibrouspulp.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide a new method ofmanufacturing seamless pails and other articles and receptacles ofcompressed fibrous pulp; further to increase to the maximum the speed,economy and general eHiciency possible in the the manufacture of thesame; further to render such operations and steps continuous whereby thepulp stock may be fed in at one end of the apparatus and the formedpails, covers or other articles may be continuously removed from theother end; further to render possible the removal of foreign substancesfrom the half-stu`, further to provide for washing and sterilizingl thelibres of the pulp; further the addition of a suitable sizing materialto the pulp whereby to strengthenthe pails or other articles orreceptacles and render them moisture and temperature resistant; furthervto effect the elimination of excess Water from the pulp prior to passinginto the presses; further to provide for the regulation of the entry ofthe pulp into the presses so as to give just the required amount forforming a pail, cover or other articles as desired; further to provideat the output end ofthe mechanism a continuous conveyer by means ofwhich the formed pails or other articles can be quickly and easilytransferred from the presses vto the drying room; further to providemeans whereby the greater part'of the surplus pulp not consumed in thepresses for forming the articles will be returned to one of the stuffvchests; and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as willlater more fully appear.

illustrateda preferred arrangement of apparatus for carrying into e'ectmy new method. However, I desire the same to be considered asillustrative only and not as limiting the scope of my invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a diagrammatic plan view of one form of apparatus forcarryinginto effeet my improved method.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through thepulping machine.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional View through the stuff chest 6,showing the arrangement of pipe in the bottom thereof whereby foreignsubstances may be separated from the pulp.

Figure 4 is an elevation of one -form of water eliminating device whichmay be applied between the feeding chests and the presses.

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through Figure 4.

Before taking up a detailed description of the apparatus shown in thedrawings a short general statement of the steps employed in forming thepulp and pails will be given.

rIhe pulp stock is first run through a -shredding machine or any othersuitable machine which tears the stock into strips or shreds. Fromthence it goes into a pulper or any other suitable 'machine whichremoves foreign substances and masticates the stock with water andsterilizes it with steam. After the stock' has been thus treated, it isknown as half-stuff. In this pulping machine, the largerand moreprominent foreign substances are removed. Then the half-stud is dropped,pumped or conveyed into an agitated stuff chest which is so constructedthat the remaining foreign substances may be easily removed. Thehalfstuff is then dropped, pumped or conveyed to beaters or refiningengines where 1t-1s thoroughly pulped, washed, sterilized with steam andsized. The pulp is then dropped,

- pumped or conveyed into other agitated stuff chests, where a constantsupply isliept. From the last mentioned stun chest it is dropped, pumpedor conveyed-into feeding chests connected with which, by means of pipesor conduits are power 'devices which eliminate the surplus water fromthe pulp, .reducing it to any required consistency and also which powerdevices inject the pulp f into the wells of the forming presses indesired amounts. The elimination of water and feeding of presses may ormay not be performed automatically w1th the operation of the presses asdesired. Also each one of the water eliminating and pulp injectingdevices may feed one, two or any greater number desired of the formingpresses.

Referring to the apparatus illustrated in the drawings, S represents ashredding machine of any suitable design. The pulping machine throughwhich the stock material next passes comprises the hopper 1, havingsloping sides 1, and the main body 2 in which rotate suitable arms 3,mounted upon the shaft 4, which shaft is driven by any suitable sourceof power applied to the drive wheel'5. This pulping machine is sopositioned relative to the agitated stuff chest 6 that as the half-stuffemerges from the pulping machine, it will be suitably conveyed bydropping, pumping or otherwise into this stuff chest. The pulpingmachine at a point below the hopper is provided with a downwardlyextending portion forming the well or chamber 54 hinged across the loweredges 55 of which, by means of the hinge 56 is the door 54 which doormay be suitably secured in closed position byany convenient form 'oflatch. By releasing such latch the door may be swung downwardly topermit the cleaning of the well and the removal of foreign substanceswhich have dropped thereinto. The stuff-chest is so constructed that thehalf-stuff may be agitatedtherein and as seen in Figure 3, the vpipe 8leading from this stuff chest ispositioned with its upper end asubstantial distance above the bottom of the chest whereby to permit theremaining foreign substances to settle through the soft half-stuff to'the bottom of the chest and below the open end of the pipe 8 from whichposition it'may be later removed in any appropriate manner.

In the pipe line 8 and adjacent the stuff chest 6 is located the valve9, and at a suitable distance from the valve 9 the pipe 8 leads into thestuff pump 7. The stuff pump 7 is connected with the beaters or refiningengines 11 and'12 by means of the pipe 10, the entry of pulp into thebeaters 11 and 12 being controlled by suitable valves 13 and 14. Thebeaters 11 and 12 are each provided with the central partitions 15 and16, the ends of which are spaced from the ends of the vbeaters andaround which partitions and through the open ends thereof may circulatethe mass of pulp. Suitably mounted for rotation upon one side upon eachof these the pulp. It is obvious that instead of making use of theparticular pump arrangements shown that the half-stuff may be dropped,pumped or conveyed from the stuff chest 6 to the refining machinery inany suitable manner. .Also in place of the beaters 11 and 12, I may ifdesired make use of any other forms of refining engine suitable for thenecessary treatment of the pulp.

Connecting the beaters 11 and 12 with the further stuff chests 22 and 23is the pipe line 21, having suitable connections with the bottom of eachof the beaters and stuff chests. These further stuff chests are soconstructed f that the pulp may be suitably agitated therein and inwhich chests a constant supply of able source of power applied to thedrive wheels 34 and 35.

Connected with the feeding chests 32 and 33 by means of the pipes 36 and40 are the water eliminating devices A which are suitably located inposition over the pail presses 38, 39, 42 and 43, the construction ofwhich water eliminating devices Will later more fully appear. ln thepipe line'30, 31 and beyond the feeding chest 33 is located the branchconnection 44 from which leads the pipe 45 and the branch pipe 46; thepipe 45 leading into the stuff chest 23 and the branch pipe 46 leadinginto the feeding chest 47, connected with which by means of pipe 48 is awater eliminating device A, which feeds the pulp in desired quantitiesand of the desired consistency into the cover presses 50 and 51 in amanner similar to that referred to in connection with the formingpresses, which form the pails, covers or other articles or receptacles.y

Located adjacent the 'forming presses are the continuous conveyors 52and 53 to which the pail covers, receptacles or other articles may bereadily transferred from the presses and conveyed thereon into thedrying room, where they are -dried and hardened and given their nalsetand from which they are conveyed to receive their final finish.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, it will be seen that the water eliminatingdevice A comprises the body 60 in which are formed the enlarged annularportions 61 and 62. Upon the top of the body 60 and leading thereinto isthe pipe 63-which connects with the pipes 36, 40 and 48 respectively.Mounted within the body portion 60 for longitudiinal sliding movementtherein is the piston head 64 carried by the piston rod 65, At

mor/,40e

each end of the water eliminating device are l`provided the spouts 66and 67 which spouts are adapted to be placed over the forming resses 1norder to guide the pulp thereinto.

ocated within the body 60 and extending across the space formed bytheannular portions 61 and 62 are screens 68 and 69, while from thel bottomof the spaces 72 and 73 formed between the screens and the outershell'of the portions `6l and 62 arev the drain pipes 70 and 71. 'Ateach end of the water eliminating device is formed an adjustablepressure resisting door 74 which will be so `constructed as toresiliently resist pressure from the inside and which resistance may beregulated and controlled either by hydraulic, air,.steam or othermechanical power and operated by valve or lever, the details of whichmechanism lis not shown herein.`

From an inspection of the drawings'it will be seen that in carrying outmy improved method by means of the apparatus disclosed therein the stockmaterial such as old paper and the like will first be run through theshredding machine S, and after being sufficiently shredded therein, itwill be conveyed into the hopper 1 of the pulping machine 2 by anysuitable means. In the pulping Inachine the stock material will bemasticated with water and sterilized with steam and converted into Whatisknown as half-stuff as pointed out above. Any foreign materials qheavier than the half-stuff will fall into the well or chamber 54 at thebottom of the pulping machine (see Figure 2), from which they may belater removed. From the pulping machine the half-stuff will be dropped,pumped or conveyed into the stuff chest 6 where it will be furtheragitated and the remaining foreign particles collected in the bottom ofthis chest as pointed out above in ture and the like. After beingsuiiciently treated in the beaters, the pulpv will'be dropped, pumped orconveyed into the further stuff chests 224 and 23 where itmay be furtheragitated and in which stuff chests l may be maintained a constantsupply. From the stuff chests 22 and 23, the pulp will be conveyedthrough the pipe line 30, 31 into the feeding chests 32, 33 and 47 andfrom these feeding chests through the pipes 36, 40 and 48 respectivelyinto the water eliminating devices A. .These water eliminating devicesmay or may not, as desired, be made to operate automatically with theoperation of the presses. The pulp, upon entering the water eliminatingdevice through pipe 63, will be forced towards one end of this device bymovement in that direction of the piston 64 and accordingly squeezedbetween the piston and the pressure resisting door 74, the result ofwhich will be to force the surplus water from the pulp through thescreen 68 and out through the drain 70. The resistance of the door 74will be so regulated that the pulp Will be brought to the desiredconsistency by the elimination-of water therefrom and when this point isreached the door will be so regulated that the pressure from within willcause the same to open and eject a desired amount of pulp from withinthe water eliminating device and feed the same through the hopper 66into the adjacent press. While the piston 64 is in operation at one endof the Water eliminating device, pulp will be entering through the pipe63 into the other end for compression and simi-l lar treatment upon thereturn stroke of the piston. llt is obvious, of course, that this watereliminating device may be constructed to operate in connection with twopresses or only one as desired.

From the arrangement of the pipe line 30, 31 and 45, it will be seenthat a continuous flow of pulp may be effected from the stuff chest 22and around and back into the stuil chest 23, thus giving a continuouslyfresh supply of pulp to be fed through the pipes 63 and from the watereliminating device into the pressees. After the pails, covers or otherarticles have been formed in their respective presses, they will beremoved therefrom and transferred to the continuous conveyer lines 52and 53 and carried thereon into an adjacent drying room, where thearticles are subjected to heat thoroughly set, dried and hardened andthen it is completely finished into condition for commercial use. It isobvious that during its passage around the pipe line 30 and 31, thenecessary amount of pulp for feeding the cover presses 50 and 51 will bediverted into the pipe line 46 by reason of the |branch connection. 44.lThe surplus pulp over that being fed into the presses will be returnedthrough the pipe line 45 into the stuff chest 23 as the result of whichthe pulp will be continuously kept in a fresh condition.

By this process the completion of^a seamless thoroughly strong, heatresisting, moisture repellant pail, cover receptacles or other articleis accomplished in a practically automatic manner.

It will be seen from the above that by my improved method themanufacture of pails, receptacles, covers and other articles carried onin a continuous operation and effected in a much more efficient,economical and convenient manner. Also in carrying out my method it isnot essential that the steps more feeding chests, transferring the pulpfrom said feeding chests toa pail press where it is pressed into pails,also transferringsome of said pulp to a cover press where it is pressed'into covers, removing said pails and covers onto a continuous conveyorfor transportation to a drying room, and returning the surplus pulp toone of said stuff chests.

2.l The method of forming seamless compressed fibrous pulp pails whichconsists in thoroughly comminuting the stock material and reducing it toa pulp by passing it through a pulper, stuff chest, and refiningenglnes, then transferring it to a further stuff chest, from whence litis conveyed to a feeding chest, passing it from said feeding chest to apail press where it is pressed into pails, conveying a portion of thepulp to a cover press where it is pressed into pail covers, returningthe sur lus pulp from said presses back to said further stu` chest, andremoving the pressed pails and. covers from said presses onto acontinuous conveyor by which they are carried to the drying room forcompletion by drying.

3. The method of forming seamless compressed fibrous pulp pails whichconsists in thoroughly reducing the stock material to a.

pulp by passing it through a pulper andv series of refining engines,then transferring it to a plurality of stuff chests, passing said fromsaid stuff chests to pail presses cover presses, returning the surpluspulp to said stuff chests, and transferring by means of 1acontinuousconveyor the pails and covers from said presses to a drying room.

4. The method of forming seamless pails of compressed fibrous pulp whichconsists in passing the stock material through a shredding machine andfrom thence into a pulping machine, reducing vsaid stock to a ulp insaid pulping machine and sterilizing 1t therein with steam, transferringsaid stock from thence into an agitated stuff chest, conveying the pulpfrom said stuff chest and delivering it into arefining apparatus, whereit is thoroughly pulped, washed, sterilized with steam and sized,transferring said pulp from said refining apparatus to a plurality ofstuff chests, where-it is further agitated and kept at a constantsupply, selectively transferring said pulp from said'last mentionedstuff ychests to a battery of feeding chests, then removing the excesswater and feeding it in predetermined quantities to a plurality of pailand cover presses, pressing pails and covers in said presses, returningthe pulp not consumed in said presses to one of said last mentionedstuff chests, and then transferring by means of a continuous conveyorsaid pails and covers from said presses to a drying room where they arecompleted by dr ing.

5. 'flhe method of forming seamless compressed fibrous pulp pails whichconsists in selectively drawing the pulp from a plurality of stuffchests and passing it through a conduit system, from which it may be fedas desired into any one or more of a battery of pail and cover presses,pressing pails and covers in said presses, transferring said pails andcovers from said presses to a continuous conveyor for removal to adrying room, and returning the pulp not used in said presses back to oneof the stuff chests from which it was drawn.

6. lThe method of forming seamless compressed fibrous pulp pails whichconsists in positively and continuously circulating the pulp ,fromeither one or all of the plurality of stufl" chests through a closedconduit system and back to one of said stuff chests, and during suchcirculation selectively withdrawing from said conduit system pulp to befed into one or more presses, pressing pails in said presses, and dryingsaid pails.

7. The method of forming seamless compressed fibrous pulp pails whichconsists in positively and continuously circulating pulp from one ormore stuff chests through a closed conduit system and back to one ofsaid stuff chests, withdrawing during such circulation pulp from saidsystem, transferring it to one or more presses, and pressing it intopails in said press or presses.

8. The method of forming seamless compressed fibrous pulp pails whichconsists in transforming stock material into pulp and passing it intoone or more stuffchests, circulating said ulp from said stuff cheststhrough a con uit system and back into one of said stuff chests,withdrawing during circulation a portion of said pulp from said systemand passing it into pail presses and pressing it into pails, alsowithdrawing pulp from said system and passing it into cover masticatingthe pulp stock in-a pulping machine and passing it into a stuff chest,then passing the pulp thus formed through one or morerefining enginesand into one or more further stuff chests, circulating said pulp fromthence through a conduit system and back into one of said further stuff'chests, and withdrawing during said circulation portions of said pulpand transferring it into presses, and pressing said withdrawn pulp intopails in said presses.

A10. The method of forming seamless compressed fibrous pulp pails whichconsists, in masticating the pulp stock with water in a pulping machineand passing it into a stuff chest, then passing the pulp thus formedthrough one or more refining machines and into one or more further stuffchests, circulating said pulp from thence through a conduit system andback into one of said further stuff chests, withdrawing during saidcirculation portions of said pulp and transferring it into presses,pressing said withdrawn pulp into pails and covers in said presses, andtransferring said pails and covers on a continuous, conveyor from saidpresses to a drying room.

11. The method of formin seamless compressed ibrous pulp pails w ichconsists in masticating the stock material in a pulping machine andremoving the heavier foreign substances therefrom while in said machine,lthen passing the material into an agitated stuff chest and furtherseparating forei substances therein, further treating the pu p materlalin refining machines and stu chests, and then feeding the pulp intopresses to be formed into pails and covers.

12. The method of forming seamless compressed fibrous pulp pails, whichconsists in reducing the stock material to thoroughly prepared pulp, andduring such reduction washing and sterilizing the fibers thereof, andremoving the heavier foreign substances therefrom, passing 'the pulpinto one or more stuff chests, circulating it through a conduit systemback to said stuff chests, withdrawing pulp from said conduit duringsaid circulation, passing said withdrawn pulp into presses, and pressingthe same into pails and covers, said steps being carried out incontinuous and uninterrupted operation.

13. The method of forming seamless compressed fibrous pulp receptacles,which consists in positively and continuously circulating pulp from oneor more stuff chests through a closed conduit system, and back to one ormore of said stuff chests, withdrawing during such circulation pulp fromsaid system, transferring it to presses, and pressing it into areceptacle.

'In wltness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specificationin the presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR W. HANDFORD.

J. M. Kusz.

